AutoFlight sets record distance for eVTOL

An AutoFlight eVTOL is on display at a company facility in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, in August. AutoFlight, an electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft developer, announced on Thursday that it accomplished the world's longest eVTOL flight ever with a distance of 250.3 kilometers on a single charge of the aircraft's lithium-ion batteries. The flight, which took place at AutoFlight's eVTOL testing facility in Jining, Shandong province, on Feb 23, consisted of 20 circuits on a predetermined flight path, with the plane remotely piloted from the ground by AutoFlight's flight test team, the company said in a news release. "This flight is a remarkable achievement that shows our aircraft's capability, and we are excited to continue working toward our next goals all the way to EASA certification in 2025," said AutoFlight President Omer Bar-Yohay. The aircraft used in this record-setting flight was AutoFlight's newest Generation 4 model, which involved legendary designer Frank Stephenson, whose vehicle design portfolio also includes iconic successes from brands including Ferrari, Maserati, McLaren and Mini.